Smart said Theus has been receiving treatment on his right knee “around the clock” and has practiced the last few days, but not “full out” and isn’t 100 percent. As important as he is to the Rams’ success. Smart says he’s not going to rush his senior point guard.

“I want to be cautious,” he said. “It’s is a long season and he’s a very important for us. But he’s determined to play. The game is 10 minutes from his house.”

Theus injured his right knee in VCU’s 92-56 win over Stetson on Nov. 28 and missed the Rams’ win over Belmont on Dec. 1. It snapped a string of 43 consecutive starts for the Portsmouth native. It was just the second missed game of Theus’ VCU career. He is averaging 8.4 points and a team-high 4.7 assist per game.

In two games against Old Dominion last season, Theus averaged 14.5 points and shot .471 from the floor.

Sophomore Teddy Okereafor started in Theus’ place against Belmont, but struggled in 12 minutes. Instead, sophomore Briante Weber earned the lion’s share of playing time.